NORTH ATTLEBORO -- Yet another town board has voted to keep its hands off the political hot potato of the town administrator bylaw.

The Representative Town Meeting Coordinating Committee unanimously voted not to weigh in on whether changes are needed for the bylaw as the town embarks on a third search for a new town administrator.

The bylaw study committee has also declined to review the bylaw.

In addition, with several issues to be hashed out, selectmen said they now likely will not renew the search for a town administrator until the fall.

Selectwoman Marjorie Kraskouskas suggested that waiting until the fall will allow the board to work out whether the town administrator should be required to live in North Attleboro, and what the salary should be. She also said that new candidates may begin looking for jobs in the fall once summer vacations end and mayoral elections occur. As for that controversial bylaw, RTM Coordinating Committee Chairman Charles Mottinger said the committee felt the issue was outside the RTM Coordinating Committee's jurisdiction.

`` We voted unanimously that it is beyond the scope of the committee's charter to coordinate the activities of town meeting,'' Mottinger said. `` We feel its important for the coordinating committee to remain politically neutral.''

Mottinger is still, however, spearheading a citizens' group that is in the process of reviewing the town administrator bylaw for possible changes, which could be presented at town meeting as early as the fall.

Selectman Dale Langille urged the board to begin the search now, saying that the board should not wait for a review of the bylaw.

`` The bylaw we have now spells out the qualifications,'' Langille said. `` We shouldn't be changing the bylaw midstream. You don't change the rules in the middle of the game. I'm ready to go out and hire a firm to help us find a new town administrator.''

Among the issues up for review in the bylaw is a provision that requires the town administrator have three years of experience as the chief administrator in a municipal organization.

Selectmen have clashed over the interpretation of that phrase and whether former selectman Mark Fisher's experience three years as chairman of the board counts toward that qualification.

In both of the previous searches, Fisher was the sole finalists but did not receive the four votes necessary to obtain the job.

A majority of the board argues that he is qualified while Langille and Selectman James Wood argue he does not have the experience required by the bylaw.

rdrtrdrsrdrw15rsp160 AMY DEMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or by e-mail at ademelia(at)(at)thesunchronicle.com.